Automatic proportional feeding device.



Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. I. NOXON. AUTOMATIC PROPORTIONAL FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOH IILBD JUNE 12. 1907- B. I. NOXON. AUTOMATIC rnoron'nomx.FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1907.

Patented Mar. 15,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

{i i i Wim asses.

E. I. N OXON. AUTOMATIC PBOPOBTIONAL FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1907- Patented mar. 15,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

66 lnI/enfo W l/lfz'lnesses:

E. I. N OXON. AUTOMATIC PROPORTIONAL FEEDING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILEDJUNE 12. 1907.

952, 1 34. Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 7 9'- 5 Witnesses: In l/enior:

Continuation of application Serial No.

ELWIN r. noxoiv, or :s'rfLouis, mrssouai.

AUTOMATIC PROPORTIQNAL FEEDING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELWIN I. NOXON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Proportional FeedingDevices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the said deflector 5 is in accompanying drawings.

This application is a continuation of that filed by me December 20,190:"), Serial No. 292,594. I

This invention relates to means for producing an automatic feed andmeans for positively regulating the supply so fed.

Other features of invention will be particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification in which like numbersof reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on theline 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end elevation; and Figs. 5 and (i aredetails in side and end elevation, respectively, of the scalebearingmember and block adjustable thereon, etc.

The casing 1 incloses the receiving table 2, conveyer 3," agitators .4,and deflector 5, and provides support and bearings for the shaft 6,which is driven by the band-wheel 7. Upon said shaft 6 are mounted theagitators 4,. consisting of a plurality of radial spokes or arms. Theupper part of the casing 1 forms a receiving chute 8, and the lower-parta discharging chute 9, the former leading from a bin (not shown) orother storage chamber, and the latter to a conveyer 10, bin (not shown),or discharge outlet l1. Centrally located in the exit of said dischargechute 9 is support 12, fixed to the inside of the casing 1, to which thedeflector- 5 is pivoted by pins 13 or otherwise, thus allowing same tooccupy either of the positions shown or indicated in Fig. 3. When theposition shown in full lines in said figure, the material caused by thescraper or forwarder occupying the a position of the one marked 15 tofall into the chute 9 will be deflected thereby to pass through theoutlet 11, but, on the other hand, when said deflector occupies theosition indicated by the dotted lmes, suc material will be directedtoward the conveyor 10. In order that the position of said deflector maybe conveniently changed at will, a slot 16 is Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Mar. 15, mo.

292,594, filed December 20, 1905. This application filed June 12,

1907. Serial No. 378,511.

the pin 19 protruding through and being adapted to move in said slot,and the-nut 18 being screwed on said pin till it contacts with plate 17and holds the deflector firmly in place. I

The table 2 is of sufficient width to cover the mouths of the chutes 8and 9, in order to receive from the one the material to be fed and toprevent same from passing directly to the other. The edges. of saidtable touch the side walls of easing 1 (as clearly appears in Fig. 2)and are attached thereto. Beyond the ends of said table are located theshafts 20 journaled in the side walls of the casing 1 and bearingsprocket wheels 21 whereby the pair of endless sprocket chains 22 isdriven. Spaced apart on said chains and attached thereto is a pluralityof scrapers or forwarders 14 (one of which is, for convenience ofreference to its illustrative position, marked 15). Said forwarders movewith said chains in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 3, andtogether they constitute the conveyer 3. While traveling over the table2, said forwarders 14 contact with and scrape its upper surface, but,when traveling thereunder do not touch same. When in the position of theone marked 15, however, and the one following it (see Fig. 3), theycontact with and scrape the horizontal floor 23 of the casing 1.

In this way the material which descends upon the receiving table 2through chute 8 is forwarded by the scrapers 14 to the end of the table2, whereupon it falls to floor 23, along which it is forced by theinverted scrapers 14, the part of each of said scrapers projectingoutside said chains being shown relatively higher or greater than thepart within same. When the material has been pushed adjacent the end ofthe floor 23, the scraper 15. forces same to fall into chute 9. There isno tendency of the material to fall beyond the right hand end of thetable 2 (Fig 3), because themovement of the conveyer 2 in the oppositedirection guides it in the right way. With certain kinds of material.(such as are of a ulpy nature, for instance, and some others i, atendency to become too tightly packed in chute 8 could be overcome bythe provision and .use of the I agitators 4, which would stir thematerial just before it reached the table 2. Motion which is usuallyintermittent in character, but which may (by adjustment, as hereinafterdescribed) be made approximately continuous and uninterrupted ifdesired, is positively imparted to the conveyer 31 by the wheel 24 fixedto one of the shafts 20. Said wheel is mounted on said shaft exterior tothe casing. A bent yoke 25 carrying a block 26 at its outer end forms afriction clutch by means of which the wheel 24 is rotated in thedirection indicated by the arrow, one strap of said yoke passing on oneside of wheel 24 and the other strap on the opposite side thereof, andthe block 26 engaging the periphery of said wheel at certain timeshereinafter described), whereby 'said wheel is caused to move forward acertain distance while so clutched. Said wheel 24 and one pair ofsprocket wheels 21 being fixed to shaft 20, all move in unison and thuscause the forward movement of conveyer 3 and the material forwardedthereby.

The clutch is actuated by the raising of the long arm of lever 27pivoted on shaft 20, the short arm of the lever being thus depressed,which pulls link 28 downwardly and yoke 25 to the left (Fig. 1), thuscausing block 26 to clutch the periphery of wheel 24. Said block 26 isdisengaged from wheel 24 by depressing the long arm of lever 27, whichraises the short arm thereof and link 23, and pushes yoke 25 to theright (Fig. l). The long arm of lever 27 is alternately raised anddepressed by the movement of the pitman 25) to which it is pivoted at30. Said pitman is also, pivoted at 31 to the interiially-threiuledblock 32, which is longitudinally adjustable by means of screw 33 withrelation to box 34, through a groove 35 in said block and in which saidscrew 33 runs and a tongue 36 of block 32 moves. Said box 34 is fixed toone end of shaft 6 and retates therewith, carrying with it block32 andpitman 29thereby alternately raising and depressing the long arm oflever 27, which is shown (Fig. 1') in dotted lines in itshighcstposition and in full lines in its intermediate position. Thescrew 33 has a bearing in the opening through the yoke 37 at one end ofsaid block and is retained-in position by the head 38 and the shoulder39.

Upon the box 34 is vmarked a scale 40, by which are indicated quantitiesfrom, for in stance, one hundred ounds down to one pound. The threads ofthe screw 33 and the pitch thereof are to be accurately calculated andcut so as to coincide with the indications of said scale so that when,for instance, the turning of the screw 33 has caused the block32 to moveto a position where, for example, its right-hand end (Fig. 1) isopposite the mark for 60 pounds, the adjustment of the pitman 29 pivotedto said block, as

hereinbefore described, will be such as alter nately to raise anddepress the long arm of the lever 27 at such intervals (therebymaintaining the block 26 either in contact with or disengaged from theperiphery of the wheel 24 for such period of time as is appropriate)that the movement of the conveyer 3 will be sufficient (and onlysufficient) to feed the material through the chute 9 at the rate of 60pounds per minute or other predetermined period. In like manner, if theblock 32 were set at the ten-pound mark on the gage or scale 40, theconveyor 3 would move so that only ten pounds per minute (or otherpredetermined period) will be delivered to the chute 9. It will beunderstood that by using a wheel for the member 24 and a block 26 toclutch same, instead of, for instance, a ratchet and dog, I secure theimmediate actuation of the wheel 24 and the shaft 20, on

which it is fixed, consequently, of the sprockets 21 mounted on saidshaft, and, thereby, of the endless chains 22. This enables nice andaccurate adjustment of the several parts to each other and insures thatthe adjustment of the block 32 on the screw 33 relative to the scale 40will be positively and accurately reflected in the movement of theconveyor 3, whereby the amount of material fed thereby will be increasedor diminished as desired by the operator and as provided by him throughhis adjustment of the block 32 relative to said scale by his manualmanipulation of the screw 33.

With the rotation of the shaft 6 the head 38 of the screw 33 describes acircle in the path of its travel, and so, likewise, does the pivotalpoint 31, whereby the pitman 2%) will at one time occupy the posit-ionshown in full lines in Fig. 1, and at another time the positionindicated by dotted lines, and at other times other positions neithershown nor indicated; but the continuous rotation of the shaft 6 in onedirection (which one direction may be either backward or forward) istransferred into intermittent movement of the wheel 24 and connectedparts in the direction indicated by the arrow, the interrupted characterof the revolution of said wheel being obviously produced by theeccentric pivoting of the pitman 29 at 31 relative to the axis of theshaft 6.

Access to the interior of the casing 1 is provided by the trap door 41hinged at 42. The plates 43 and 44 attached to the casing 1 strengthenthe bearings for, respectively, shafts 6 and one of the shafts 20'. Theother shaft 20 has its bearin s inbox 45,

from each of which protrud es a lug 46,

simply turning the screws 47. The gate 50 adapted to move verticallythrough the slot 51 in the casing 1, and held in position by thethumb-nut 52, prevents more of the material being carried by theconveyor than is retained between the forwarders 14.. On the other hand,if said gate be opened a greater flow of material may be allowed.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The material to be fed isallowed to enter the chute 8 and thereupon falls upon the table 2,forming a heap thereon and a body extending up into the chute 8. Therotation of the shaft 6 will cause said material to be stirred by theagitators 4 and at the same time will cause the forwarders ll of theconveyer 3 to move intermittently step by step forward, thus pushing thematerial lying between same on the table 2 along and scraping same fromthe bottom of the heap of material above said table and in said chute.The material is thus forwarded to the end of the table 2 adjacent themolding 49 (said molding preventing it from sticking in the corner), andthe material falls on the floor 23 where the inverted forwarders 15scrape it alon until it falls into the chute 9. The rapi ity of feed,-and, consequently, the quantity of the material fed, is regulated bythe movement of the conveyer 3, which is controlled by the rotation andstop age of the wheel 24 which drives 'the sha t 20, on which it isfixed, and the sprocket wheels thereto attached, and with same theendless chains 22.- When the shaft 6 is driven either forward orbackward it causes the box 34 fixed thereto to revolve, carrying with itthe pivotal stud 31 eccentric to the axis of said shaft, whereby one endof the pitman 29 is caused to travel'in a circle around said axis, whilethe other end alternately ralses and,

depresses the long arm of the lever 27,

thereby alternately engaging the block 26 with and disengaging same fromthe periphery of wheel 24, the relation of the pivotal point 31 to theaxis of the shaft 6 being regulated by the manipulation of the screw 33,and consequent movement thereon of the internally screw-threaded block32.

Having thus described my, saidinvention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters- Patent is: y

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a chute conveying material thereto, a shaft journaled in said chute,rotary agitators carried by said shaft, a material-receiving tablewithin said casing forming a diaphragm to divide the casing into anupper and a lower portion, shafts journaled in said casing and bearingsprocket wheels, a pair of endless chains passing over said sprocketwheels and being intermittingly actuated by one of said shafts, andforwarders secured to said chains and projecting both above and belowsaid chains.

' 2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, a chute leading into the upper part thereof, a shaft journaledin said chute, rotary agitators carried by said shaft, amaterial-receiving and mixing table within said casing, anintermittingly-moving conveyer to remove the materlal therefrom, atwo-way exit chute, and a valve within said exit-chute to control thepath of travel of the material.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ELWIN I. NOXON.

